Letter from Sir Christopher Wren to Faith Coghill

SOURCE: Christopher Wren. Parentalia (London, 1750), 'Heirloom copy', interleaved between pp. 208 and 209 NOTES: This page is one of several manuscript insertions in the Library's 'Heirloom copy' of the Parentalia.

NOTES: Exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1838, this drawing of buildings mostly in London, which is watercolour over pencil, sparked a reappraisal of Wren's work that led to his being regarded until well into the 20th century as the most important architect England had produced. The popular revival of his style, christened by Sir Edwin Lutyens the "Wrennaisance", left its mark on every high street in the country. This picture was extensively reproduced from the late 19th century in popular books and encyclopaedias. For prints based on this image see RIBA95104, RIBA67178, RIBA95104 and RIBA127225.